From the Archives: 61 Writing Tips from my MFA

Today is part of my annual “fall cleaning,” which has nothing to do with actually cleaning my house. As a writer, this is the time when I go through my digital files and try to organize all of my writing and research into folders (that I will inevitably change the following year when I think I’ve come up with the next brilliant organization method). This year, I came across something that I couldn’t resist sharing–a compilation of 61 writing tips I put together from my workshop notes after I graduated from my MFA.

I had completely forgotten about this list, but after finding it and reading it this morning, I’m unabashedly unashamed to share it with the rest of the world. I hope you can find a gem in here, too! (And in response to #2, yes, I am still weird.)

Also, curiosity getting the best of me here, what would you add?

–Kristin

Count how many times you use “I” in one paragraph. Have you overused yourself? Please find other ways to talk about yourself than using “I.” Try description. Try something. ANYthing.

Find the “oddness” in your own identity—there’s an interest in every truth, detail, and experience. And yes, you are weird.

Personal essay: topical/political, present tense, meditation, reflection, argument, narrative, scene, summary, characters, “to try” to discover, analyze, inquire, voice, “I” or no “I,” tone/attitude/bias must be present, exploratory, self as the “lens” through which we see a way of life!

Memoir: shifts in time, memory, “I,” identity, complexity, experience and how we make meaning of it, human conditions, epiphany, “me,” How do I know…?,” “How does it work?” asking questions, time and place ruptured, moments in history

Reconstruct emotion but please, dear God, don’t “cry” more than once in an essay!

Dependent clauses shouldn’t override an essay. Too much “cataloguing” does not push narrative forward! Especially don’t do this at the beginning of a paragraph.

Increase tension/urgency by using present tense.

Don’t let an interesting technique “dilute” a story—just write it!

Don’t write about man; write about “a man.”

Write to a less-informed audience than you expect, but don’t patronize them.

Outside to inside, general to specific: works well as grounding technique

Compound words like “olive-sized” work better spelled out: “size of an olive”

A voice that’s too colloquial can work against credibility

Orient your readers so they don’t feel like monkeys hanging from a branch!

Technical writing must be done carefully and meticulously—don’t lose your reader in too many terms they won’t understand (farm equipment)

If you weren’t there, you can’t pretend! Use the Nabokov technique: “I can imagine her standing there at the train…” “I didn’t see…but I can guarantee…” This gives you freedom to say what you thought might have went on!

Show, don’t summarize!

Too many modifiers actually weaken what you’re trying to say!

Which anecdotes tell the story BEST? Toss out the ones that don’t contribute to the overall purpose. Save them for another essay.

Context is vital—bring us along with you. Use your senses, knowledge, comprehension!

Understanding the real truth is impossible, especially if you’re considering more than one perspective. “One of the best stories is….grandpa says…but now dad, dad says…” “But I think….” Shows complexity of situation.

In description, always be more specific. What game were you playing? What perfume was she wearing? What day was it?

Comments

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